Next paradigm shift: are we being too stubborn?

Question

Over and over I hear from PC users, don't shift to MAC - PC dominates the world, all software is written for PCs, PCs are less expensive, PCs are here to stay, and on, and on...

Yet, I recall a similar mindset from mainframe bigots, when PCs first emerged...don't buy into PCs...they'll never take off, software is written for mainframes, centralized use of one big computer by multiple people is much less expensive, mainframes are here to stay, and on, and on...

Are we too quick to dismiss Macs as a substantial alternative?

Similarly, what about other operating systems, for example, linux? Lots of popularity out there for it...

Or maybe, the future's not with computer-based stuff at all, maybe we'll get all our software from *web-based* applications, like Yahoo! for email, or Google Documents and Spreadsheets for Office or MSN Live instead of Office...

Or maybe mobile devices instead of ALL this...

Thoughts?

Answer 1

You have to consider that PCs were laughably weak compared to mainframes when that argument was made. A lot of the important software couldn't run on PCs then (btw, Mac was around in those days and it was doing better in the PC market). PCs took off and are now powerful enough to do a large variety of things, but some tasks are still left to mainframe computers, especially server tasks. You don't run IIS and SQL Server on PCs for large websites for a reason.

Until Apple changes its act (which it won't) Macs are going to stay a hobbyist fan-club PC. Sure, it can run Windows, but then isn't that defeating the purpose of a Mac when the hardware and OS are practically the same as the standard PC? The only difference is the Apple logo on the case.

Apple likes to control its platform like a dictator, and does not provide programmers with tools to create software like Microsoft does. So Microsoft enjoys the benefit of more software for its OS. This is what is going to keep Microsoft on top. Apple knows this, and chooses not to compete on those grounds. In fact, it's branching out to things like the iPod and iPhone. I won't be surprised if they consider launching a video game console in the future (the XBOX 360 is running a PowerPC processor, it's practically a Macintosh design).

Or the industry could move towards the more universal generic application interfaces such as web-based applications. Then it wouldn't matter what type of PC (or device even) that you used. I hope it doesn't, those applications are a pain to develop and get working across different browsers / platforms.

Answer 2

Well PC still has a stranglehold on the market because those are the machines that are used in business and school. People who grow up using a Macintosh are used to having to be "bilingual" so to speak once they start out in the world out of their own house.

That being said, there is a large portion of the internet community that sees Mac as the "easy mode" whether it is true or not, the community sees Mac as uncustomizable and a "beginner" computer. Add to that the slim availability of software and it is a hard sell.

Apple's "politics" however seem to be far more soothing to the more connected computer user. Apple isn't trying to implement far reaching security measures and other bulky and unweildly microsoft issues. Yes PC doesn't automatically mean Windows, but for the average user it does. Linux is still too underground and still till user unfriendly to take a significant share of the market.

I think that Apple's recent ad campaigns are hurting sales rather than helping them. Their ads are extremely vague and turn the competing systems into popularity contests. I think that unless Apple starts putting out systems that do the same thing as a windows system better and cheaper people won't switch, but it is possible microsoft is going to start painting themselves into a corner with some of their rumored projects.

I think that in the next five to ten years we are going to see a HUGE push towards mobile devices. I don't think it will unthinkable that a device the size of an iPhone can double as your desktop computer, and if Apple keeps producing quality products (and if the iPhone doesn't tank) we may see more of the younger generation getting on board with apple products that ARE computers instead of ones that SYNCH with computers.

I am a little wary of the idea of having all my programs and files stored on web-based applications. Comcast goes down WAAY to often for it to be that reliable, and the question of "who owns the data" is a little too undiscussed at this junction.

Answer 3

Like you said, paradigm shift. meaning there is another meaning.